WOMEN GROUPS DRIVE SPECIAL SEAT BILL FOR WOMEN IN POLITICS

Ahead of the public hearing on the Special Seats Bill for Women in Parliament scheduled for July 2025, the League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) and the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) have joined forces to push for the bill’s passage. The bill aims to reserve elective seats for 74 women in the National Assembly, a move projected to promote good governance and bridge the gap in women’s political participation.

NILOWV National President, Hon. Irene Awunah-ikyegh, lamented the low representation of women in the National Assembly, stressing the need for collective commitment to public enlightenment and continuous engagement. “We are strategizing massively, mobilizing support from the grassroots to ensure this bill will not suffer the fate of other similar bills,” she said.

The campaign will focus on grassroots mobilization, with the goal of obtaining massive support for the bill and ensuring women’s buy-in, as they are the primary voters. “This new campaign is focusing on the grassroots to ensure massive support for the bill is obtained as well as the buy-in of women because that is where voting takes place,” Awunah-ikyegh added.

NAWOJ National Chairperson, Comrade Aisha Ibrahim, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to effective advocacy for the bill, emphasizing that it would benefit all Nigerians. “We are fully committed to this campaign, and the flag-off campaign has been stepped down across all 36 states of the federation,” she said, urging Nigerians to be actively involved.

Evelyn Ugbe from RACE Africa clarified misconceptions about the bill, stating that it is all-inclusive and will benefit every woman and girl’s interest. “We’re not just meeting lawmakers; we’re reaching the people who elect them. The electorate must understand that how their representatives vote on this bill will shape the 2027 elections,” she said.

Angelina Ugben, Executive Director of Inclusive Skill Initiative, reaffirmed her organization’s commitment to promoting inclusive governance through the speedy actualization of the bill. The bill’s passage is expected to significantly boost female participation in governance, adding 74 women to the legislature, including 37 Senators and 37 Representatives.